MJP –
Nothing says your Southern Mama failed in raising you like a bunch of tacky nonsense coming out of your mouth, especially in front of the preacher’s wife.
It makes the whole family look bad, and it makes Mama doubt whether you will ever be worthy of Great-Aunt Aurelia’s sterling.
There are so many strong Southern sayings to choose from for any occasion (happy, mad, sad… you get it), that Mama won’t be hearing any excuses. These deadly expressions are guaranteed to get you on her bad side in a hurry. (Actually, we’re already in trouble because we used the “h” word in our headline.)
Cuss Words
Unless they’re turned into Southernisms, like “hell’s bells,” thereby neutralizing the profanity. I made the mistake of saying “crap” in front of Mama once. It never happened again.
Crass Words
Any crass or overt mention of bodily functions, particularly those involved with reproduction—human, animal, or botanical. Mama had a sweet neighbor who made my cousin and me turn our backs to her lilies while she cross-pollinated them.
“Uh-huh” or “Unh-unh”
Survey! Los Angeles and San Francisco Recognized as Some of California’s Rudest Cities
Those two are like fingernails on a chalkboard.
“What?”
- Saying “what?” instead of “ma’am? Not to mention, saying “yes” or “no” without the obligatory “ma’am.”
“I can’t!”
The response to which is always, “Can’t never could do anything.”
“Hate”
That word is a big no-no. We have to say “strongly dislike” and qualify it. And while we’re here, let’s also refrain from Saying that anything “sucks.”
“Ain’t” and “cain’t”
1 City in Pennsylvania Ranked Among America’s 10 “Rudest” Metro Areas
The former is poor grammar; the latter is both poor grammar and an excuse for laziness.
Filler Words
Filler words, especially “like.” As in, “Like, I was going over there, and like, it was really far, and like, I got tired, and like . . .”
“Shut up”
She can’t stand that.
